Tube squeezer



Sept. 5, 1944. J. OLIVER 2,357,351

TUBE sQuEEzER k `Filed oct. 2', 1942 4 sheets-sheet 1 Siwa/Wto@ v SePt- 5, 1944- I B. J'. OLlvER 2,357,351

TUBE SQUEEZER FiledA oct. 2, 1942 4 sheets-sheet 2 Sept. 5, 1944. B. 4, OLIVER I v 2,357,351

TUBE SQUEEZER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 2, 1942 562291,12. im I Boyce cf /fer;

Sept. 5, 1944. B. J. OLIVER 2,357,351

TUBE sQUEEzER Filed oct. 2, 1942 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Sept. 5, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l TUBE SQUEEZER Boyce J. Oliver, Jacksonville, Fla.

Application October 2, 1942, Serial No. 460,567

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a tube squeezer especially adapted for dispensing the contents of collapsible tubes, and has for the primary object the provision of a device of the above stated character which will be extremely simple and easy to handle and will permit a person to dispense the contents of the tube directly on a surface in amounts as needed without waste and provides an eflicient holder for the tube to prevent loss or misplacement thereof when notl K tion, reference is to-be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in whi-ch Figure 1 -is a side elevation illustrating a tube squeezer constructed in accordance with my invention, and showing the device supporting and acting on a collapsible tube.

Figure 2 is a top plan View partly in section illustrating the device.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view illustrating the pressure rollers and the means of operating said rollers.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 i-s a detail sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a detail lsectional View taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detail sectional view illustrating a trigger ratchet, a holding ratchet and a release for the latter.

Figure 9 is a side elevation illustrating a modied form of my invention.

Figure 10 is a tranverse sectional view illustrating the pressure rollers of the modified form of the invention and the operating means therefor and taken on line Ill-I0 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken on the line II-II of Figure 9.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating one of the dogs of the trigger mechanism for the actuationl of the pressure rollers in I Figure 15 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, illustrating another modified form of my invention.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View illustrating the trigger mechanism for the modified form of the invention shown in Figure 15.

Figure 17 is a view similar to Figure 16, showing the trigger mechanism released or in an inoperative position.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates as an entirety a supporting frame of the device, which consists of spaced side walls 6, a bottom wall I and a top wall 8. The bottom wall 'I protrudes beyond the vertical rear edges of the side walls 6 and has secured thereto a handle 9, similar in shape to a pistol grip or handle to which is connected a suslpension bail I0 whereby the device may be hung on a support when not in use.

A shaft II is journaled in the side walls 6 of the frame 5 and has secured thereon a lower pressure roller I2 and gears I3 arranged at the ends of said roller I2. A shaft I4 extends through openings I5 provided in the side walls 6 above the shaft II .and the openings I5 are of such a size that the .shaft I4 may rotate freely as well as having a limited upward and downward movement and a lateral movement. The shaft I4 has securedy thereon an upper pressure roller I6 and gears II which are adapted to move into and out of mesh with the gears I3 during the operation of the device.

Grooved type bearings I8 receive the shaft I4 and are secured in any suitable Way to depending portions I9 formed on a pressure lever 20 pivoted on the side walls 6 of the frame-5, as shown at 2|. The pressure lever 20 is of substantially L shape and is constructed so that a portion thereof operates freely between the side walls B of `the frame and terminates at one end in a concave shaped thumb piece 22 disposed over the upper end of the handle 9, so that when the latter is gripped by a person the thumb of the hand gripping the handle may engage the thumb piece 22 for placing pressure thereon and thereby bring about a pivotal movement of the pressure lever to move the gears I'I into mesh with the gears I3 and the upper pressure roller in squeezing relation to the lower pressure roller I2. The pressure lever 20` may be swung upwardly as indicated b-y the arrows in Figurey 1 to )permit the closed end of a collapsible tube 23 to be easily arranged between the pressure rollers from the front end of the frame 5.

The end 24 of the pressure lever 20 may act as a stop for the pivotal movement of said pressure lever 2|] in bringing the gears into mesh andthe upper pressure roller in squeezing relation With the lower pressure roller by engaging the under face of the top wall 8 of the frame 5. However, the stop will permit movement of the pressure lever in the direction stated sufcient to bring the gears in mesh and the upper pressure roller in squeezing relation to the lower pressure roller.

The pressure rollers being connected when in squeezing position by the gears will cause said rollers to rotate in opposite directions to each other when one of the rollers is rotated by a trigger mechanism 25, which Will be hereinafter more fully described. f

Inorder that the tube 23 be supported in operative position as shown in Figure l, a self-adjusting support 25 is provided. The support 26 includes a rod 21 slidably mounted in a bearing 28 carried by the top wall 8 of the frame 5. The rod 21 has an offset forked portion 29 that enters openings in an adjustable clamp 30. The forked end of the rod 21 may be secured to the clamp 30 in any well known manner.

The clamp consists of a forked body 3l in which is slidably mounted a bearing member 32 engaged by a feed stem 33 threaded in the body 3|. The bearing member 32 includes an arcuately curved head 34 provided with apertured ears 35. The head 34 engages the discharge neck 36 of the co1- lapsible tube 23. A flexible loop element 31 is passed through the apertured ears 35 and about theneck 36 to cooperate with the head 34 in securing the neck to the clamp 30. The ends of the flexible element extend through openings provided in the body 3I and have the free ends enlarged, as shown at 38, to prevent the withdrawing of the flexible element from the body.

Thus it will be seen by manipulating the feed screw 33 the bearing member 32 and exible element 31 may be made to grip and release the neck 36 of the tube 23. Further, it will vbe seen that as the collapsible tube is drawn between the pressure rollers by the rotation thereof in opposite directions. the support 25 may move on the frame 5 to permit the movement of the collapsible tube toward said rollers as it is squeezed thereby.

The bearings I8 may have their movements guided by guides 4l) secured o n the side walls 6 of the frame 5, as sho-wn in Figure 7. The shaft I4 has one end squared` as shown at 4I, to permit a key or linger piece 42 to be applied and removed therefrom. The purpose of the finger piece or key 42 is to permit rotation of the pressure rollers in a reverse direction from that indicated by the arrows in Figure 1 for the purpose of moving a compressed tube from said rollers after a complete squeezing operation has been had on the tube or the contents thereof has been fully discharged. .Also the key or finger piece 4 2 may be employed for rotating the rollers in the direction as indicated by the arrows for squeezing the tube should it be desired to so operate the device and not employ the trigger mechanism 25.

The bottom wall 1 forwardly of the handle 9 has formed thereon pairs of depending walls 43.

One wall of each pair of walls 43 has portions struck therefrom to form spring seats 44 on which are seated coil springs 45 acting to urge holding ratchets 46 in engagement with the teeth of the gears I5 to prevent the pressure rollers from rotating in a direction reverse from the direction indicated by the arrows `in Figure l. The holding ratchets 45 are slidably mounted between the pairs of depending walls 43 and are provided with teeth 41 to engage the teeth of the gears I3. In order to move the holding ratchets 4S out of engagement with the gears I3, finger pieces 48 are secured thereto and are arranged exteriorly of the pairs of walls 46. The finger pieces 48 are connected to the holding ratchets by pins 49 operating in slots provided in the outermost walls of the pairs of Walls 43. The finger pieces 48 are iiexible and are provided with openings 50 to receive the ends of a trigger shaft 5I journaled in the pairs of walls 43. When the nger pieces are brought so as to receive the ends of the trigger shaft, the holding ratchets 46 are held out of engagement with the teeth of the gears I3, freeing the rollers for reverse rotation from that indicated by the arrows in Figure 1.

Trigger ratchets 54 including spring iniiuenced dogs 55 are secured' on the trigger shaft 5I and are adapted to rotate the gears I3 in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 5 and also in Figure 1, when the trigger shaft 5I is rotated in one direction. The dogs 55 may ratchet relative to the gears I3 when moving in a reverse direction. A trigger 58 is secured on the trigger shaft 5I and has connected thereto a trigger retracting spring 59 so as to return the trigger to a neutral position when manually released. The trigger ratchets 54 are spring influenced in one direction by leaf springs 6D secured on the depending walls 43 and when the trigger is pulled by the operator, the movements of the trigger ratchets 54 are limited by stops 6I carried by the depending walls 43.

In operation, with a collapsible tube applied to thedevice, as shown in Figure l, the operator grasps the handle 9 in one hand and with the thumb of said hand pressing on the finger piece 22 of the pressure lever the pressure rollers are caused to assume squeezing position on the tube with the gears I3 and I1 in mesh. A pull on the trigger'58 by the operator will impart rotation to the pressure rollers, squeezing the tube so as to dispense the contents therefrom. The operator may continue to operate the trigger by the iingerin a trigger motion and thereby intermittently discharge the contents of the tube.

When it is desired to remove a squeezed or empty tube from the device, the finger pieces 48 are bought into position of the ends of the shaft 5I entering the openings thereof, thus retracting the holding ratchets 46 from the gears I3. The pressure on the "thumb piece of the lever 20 is released and the latter may be swung upwardly as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1 moving the upper pressure roller away from the lower pressure roller so that the empty tube may be withdrawn from between the rollers and then detached from the supporting device 26 when another tube may be applied to the device.

A device of this kind will be extremely easy to handle and operate and permits a person to readily direct the intermittent discharging of the contents of the tube onto a surface by simply actuating the trigger as many times as desired. This mode of operation will assure comgplete emptying of the tube of its contents and also will assure against waste of the contents, and further when the device is not in use it may be readily placed in a suspended position on a support by engaging the bail I0 therewith.

Referring to mymodied form o-f invention as shown in Figures 9 to 12, inclusive, the frame 5,

hand grip 9, tube supporting'means 26 and upper and lower pressure rollers I6 and I2 are employed with the connecting gears I3 and I1. In this form of the invention, the shafts of the pressure rollers I2 and vI6 are indicated by the characters 62 and 63 journaled in the side walls 6 ofthe frame 5. However, the shaft 63 may slide vertically as well as being rotatable. The shaft 63 is shaped to receive the key or finger piece 42. Both the shafts 62and 63 are grooved to receive tensioning devices 64, each consisting oi loop shaped elements 65 to engage in the grooves of'the shafts and an operating lever 65 to which the loop shaped elements 65 are pivoted. The pivotal connections between the lever 66 and loop shaped elements is such that when the lever 66 is in one position, the loop shaped elements are moved apart and when in another position are brought toward each other. This will permit the pressure roller I6 to be drawn toward the pressure roller I2 and released therefrom when desired. As for instance, when inserting the closed end of the tube between said pressure rollers the lever 66 may be positioned so that the pressure roller I may move upwardly.

A trigger carriage is slidably mounted between the side walls 6 of the frame 5 on the bottom wall 8, the connections between the -side walls and bottom wal1'8 in this instance being offset to form channels to recevie the longitudinal guides for the carriage.

Spring pressed holding dogs 68 are pivotally mounted on the rcarriage to engage with the gears I3 of the pressure roller I2 to prevent a reverse rotation of the lower pressure roller. The carriage is mounted for sliding movement backward and forward and is spring influenced in one direcetion by a spring 69 connected thereto. A trigger 'I0 is pivotally mounted on the bottom wall and has a pin and slot connection I2 with the carriage. By operating the trigger 1I), the carriage may be caused to move backwardly and forwardly and thereby intermittently rotate the pressure rollers for the pur pose of squeezing the tube intermittently to discharge the contents therefrom.

An additional operating means is provided for the rotation of the pressure rollers and consists of a lever 73 constructed similarly to the lever with the thumb piece thereof disposed over the handle 9, as clearly shown in Figure 9. The lever 'I3 is pivotally mounted on the frame 5 and as shown at 14, and the pivot thereof carries a spring element 15, one end of which bears against the top wall of the frame 5 and the other end against the lever 13. Dogs 'I6 are pivoted to the lever 13 and engage with the gears I3 of the lower pressure roller. Springs TI act to hold the dogs I6 in engagement with the gears of the lower pressure roller and will permit saiddogs to ratchet thereover during the movement of the lever 73 in one direction. The movement of the lever under thumb pressure in an opposite direction, will assist in rotating the pressure rollers.

Thus it will be seen that the pressure rollers maybe operated both by the trigger linger of the hand gripping the handle 9 and by the thumb of said hand operating the lever 13.

The lever 'i3 is constructed so as to operate eXteriorly of the walls 6 of the frame 5.

In Figures l5 to 17, inclusive, a modied form of trigger mechanism is shown. This type of trigger mechanism may be employed inlieu of the trigger mechanism or the trigger arrangement shown in the modified form of my invention shown in Figures 9 to 12, inclusive.

The trigger mechanism shown in Figures l5 to 1'7, inclusive, consists of depending ears 80 formed on the bottom wall of the frame 5 and rotatably supports a shaft SI to which gears 82 are secured. The gears 82 mesh with the gears of the lower pressure roller.`

A trigger B2' is journaled on the shaft 8l and has pivoted thereto spring inuenced dogs 83 and 84 which engage a ratchet gear 85 secured on the shaft 8l. The engagement of the dogs 83 and 84 with'the ratchet gear 85 is opposite to each other. The dog 84 is for the purpose of holding the ratchet gear in a reverse rotation, while the dog 83 is employed for imparting a step by step movement to the ratchet gear 85 on the actuation of the trigger. A suitable stop 86 is carried by the trigger 82 for limting the movement of the trigger 82 by contacting the frame 5.

In order to lock the dogs 83 and 84 out of engagement with the ratchet gear, a hand lever 90 is pivoted to the dog 84 and is provided with an opening SI which may receive the notched end of the'dog 83. When the dogs 84 and 83 are thus connected they are held out of engagement with the ratchet gear freeing the pressure rollers for reverse rotation.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment cf my invention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made Ywithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A tube squeezer, a frame, tube squeezing rollers -carried by said frame and one of said rollers mounted in the frame for adjustment relative to the other roller, means for adjusting the rollers relative to each other, a trigger shaft journaled on the frame, a pistol type hand grip secured to the Vframe, means connecting said shaft to one of said gears, a ratchet gear secured on said shaft, a trigger journaled on the shaft, dogs pivoted on said trigger and engaging the ratchet gear in opposite directions, and one o said dogs acting to hold the shaft against rotation in one direction and the other dog acting to rotate the shaft by the movement of the trigger, and means for securing said dogs free of the ratchet gear.

2. In a tube squeezer, a frame, tube squeezing rollers carried by said frame and one of said rollers mounted in the frame for adjustment relative to the other roller, means for adjusting the rollers rela-tive to each other, a trigger shaft journaled on the frame, a pistol type hand grip secured to the frame, gears connecting said rollers, means connecting said shaft to one of said gears, a ratchet gear secured on said shaft, a spring influenced trigger journaled on said shaft, spring influenced dogs pivoted on said trigger and engaging the ratchet gear in opposite directions, one of said dogs acting to hold the shaft against rotation in one direction and the other dog acting to rotate the shaft by the movement of the trigger, and a lever pivoted to one of the dogs and having an opening to receive the other dog for releasably securng said dogs out of engagement with the ratchet gear.

3. In a tube squeezer, a frame, tube squeezing rollers carried by said frame and one of said rollers mounted in the frame for adjustment relative to the other roller, means for adjusting the rollers relative to each other, a rod slidably connected to the frame, and extending horizontally therefrom, a clamp carried by the rod and pivoted on said trigger and engaging the ratchet gear in opposite directions, one of said dogs acting to hold the shaft against rotation in one direction and the other dog acting to rotate the shaft by the movement of the trigger, and means for securing said dogs free of the ratchet gear.

BOYCE J. OLIVER. 

